Monday, December 30, 2019

A New Era for Natural Gas Turbines

A New Era for Natural Gas Turbines A New Era for Natural Gas Turbines Many older, decommissioned coal power plants are being replaced with highly efficient natural gas turbines. In someplaces where fuel is imported, such as in Europe and Asia, highly efficient turbines are critical for power plants to continue operations because of high fuel costs. In the U.S., where natural gas prices are lower, highly efficient natural gas turbines are not only being selected as replacements for their cost savings, but also for their ability to meet stricter ambient emission regulations. Twenty years ago, land-based electrical power gas turbine (GT) efficiencies crept upward from 15%, as E-class turbines matured into F-class. A decade ago, turbines were approaching combined-cycle efficiencies of 50%. The large, high-capacity G, H, and J class electrical GTs of today produce hundreds of megawatts of power. Used in combined-cycle power plants along with heat-recovery steam generators and steam turbin es, they can achieve greater than 60% combined-cycle efficiency. Large GT manufacturers have taken different approaches to increasing efficiency, including increasing overall mass flow, increasing compressor pressure ratio, and increasing the temperature of the air entering the turbine. The latter, increasing the firing temperature, is the fruchtwein common and most technically challenging. Natural gas turbines are not only being used as replacements because of their cost savings but also for their ability to meet stricter ambient regulations. Hotter Is Better As the temperature of the air entering the turbine has increased to be higher than the melting point of some of the materials that come in contact with hot gases inside the turbine, manufacturers have not only had to develop specialty turbine blade materials, but also new blade designs, coatings, and cooling technologies specifically to enable robust, reliable operations at these ultra-high temperatures. According to Carlos Ko eneke, vice president of project engineering and quality assurance at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, many of these types of advancements have led the way for operation at turbine inlet temperatures of 1,600 degrees C, achieved during the last year. The biggest challenges with increasing the temperature were the materials exposed to the hot gases, which have historically limited the temperature in the past,he says.Were getting to the point where we cant further improve the materials, and are now using thermal barrier coatings as facilitators. Also, internal cooling is now needed, which steals some energy from the system but enables operatio. As a result of higher firing temperatures, mega turbines not only produce higher amounts of power, but higher power density as well, so fewer turbines are needed to generate the same amount of power. On a dollar-per-kilowatt/hourbasis, the price is lower for mega turbines, since power plants actually spend less in construction, footprint, and insta llation. Increased Flexibility Despite having high efficiency, these new GTs in combined-cycle power plants are challenged when it comes to operating efficiently under variable loads. Flexibility, which can refer to the ability to start and stop frequently or rapidly, is becoming mora important as more generating plants receive power from sources such as wind and solar. Achieving high efficiency in a combined-cycle plant requires operation at constant base loads or at full load, or peak operating conditions. Its not that long times are needed to achieve high efficiency, but they dont react well to big changes, Koeneke says. Single-cycle GT systems that are faster to react are now able to operate more efficiently when parked at lower loads, and are also maintaining emissions compliance over wider load ranges. Some power plants are adopting multiple systems, both combined and single mode, for more flexible operations, since a single system cannot perform well in both modes. Efficiency has long been the goal in designing and operating gas turbines. Having achieved greater than 60% efficient emissions-compliant operation, the new-era turbines are entering what could be referred to as flexible efficiency, as the focus shifts toward the ability to adjust to new types of demands for efficient operations. Debbie Sniderman is a consultant, an engineer, and a contributing writer to Mechanical Engineering.The biggest challenges with increasing the temperature were the materials exposed to the hot gases, which have historically limited the temperature in the past.Carlos Koeneke, vice president of Project Engineering and Quality Assurance, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

In Iceland, its now illegal for men to be paid more than women

In Iceland, its now illegal for men to be paid more than womenIn Iceland, its now illegal for men to be paid more than womenIn Iceland, its no longer enough to say youll offer equal pay - youll need to prove it.As part of its ambitious goal to completely end the gender wage gap within the next five years, Iceland has made it illegal for men to be paid more than women, reportedly becoming the first country in the world to make public and private employers prove they offer equal pay to men and women for equal work. The new law, which welches announced on International Womens Day in March, went into effect on January 1st.Under the law, companies employing 25 people or more will undergo audits and must get a certification from the Icelandic government that proves their compliance with equal-pay policies, or else they will be fined.Iceland Where closing the gender wage gap is now legally enforcedIceland, which has a population of fewer than a million people, is already at the forefront o f the movement toward workplace gender equality. The World Economic Forum named Iceland the most gender-equal country in the world for the ninth year in a row, noting that it has closed more than 70% of its gender gap in political empowerment. The annual gender progress report, which examines the gender gap in four areas - economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment - noted that since it first was released in 2006, Iceland has closed approximately 10% of its total gender gap, making it one of the fastest-improving countries in the world. But even though they have made rapid progress, government officials and advocates see legalization of their standards as a necessary step to ensure enforcement.We want to break down the last of the gender barriers in the workplace, Thorsteinn Viglundsson, Icelands social affairs and equality minister, told the Times when the law was first announced. History has shown that if you wa nt progress, you need to enforce it.Dagny Osk Aradottir Pind, a board member of the Icelandic Womens Rights Association, told Al Jazeera, that enforcement is needed to move the issue beyond awareness Women have been talking about this for decades and I really feel that we have managed to raise awareness, and we have managed to get to the point that people realize that the legislation we have had in place is not working, and we need to do something more, she said.

Friday, December 20, 2019

25 buzzwords that make smart people sound stupid

25 buzzwords that make smart people sound stupid25 buzzwords that make smart people sound stupidAt first, euphemisms surfaced in the workplace to help people deal with touchy subjects that were difficult to talk about. Before long, they morphed into corporate buzzwords that expanded and took over our vocabulary until our everyday conversations started sounding like theyre taking place on another planetListen Ray, I dont have the bandwidth for it with everything thats on my plate, but ping me anyway because at the end of the day its on my radar and I dont want to be thrown under the bus because I didnt circle back around on this no-brainer.I understand the temptation. These phrases are spicy and they make you feel clever (low hanging fruit is a crutch of mine), but they also annoy the heck out of people.If you think that you can use behauptung phrases without consequence, youre kidding yourself. Just pay close attention to how other people react to your using them, and youll see that these phrases dont cast you in a favorable light.After all, TalentSmart has tested the emotional intelligence of more than a million people and one of the biggest need areas for most people is social awareness. Most of us are so focused on what were saying and what were going to say next that we lose sight of how our words affect other people.So give these words a read, think of how often you use some of them, and see if you can catch yourself before you use them again.Have some fun with it, because at the end of the day if you dont hit the ground running you can always go back to the drawing mainboard and get the ball rolling Think outside the boxThrown under the busReinvent the wheelGet the ball rollingNo brainerElephant in the roomApples to applesWin-winBack to the drawing boardHit the ground runningOn my plateAt the end of the dayLow hanging fruitLets touch baseGet my managers blessingIts on my radarPing meI dont have the bandwidthPar for the courseBang for your buckSynergyMove the goal postCircle back aroundAll hands on deckTake this offlineWhich phrases are your pet peeves? Please share them.Itll also be fun to read the ridiculous sentences you can come up with using the words above.Because, after all, I learn just as much from you as you do from me.Travis Bradberry is the co-author ofEmotional Intelligence 2.0and the co-founder ofTalentSmart.This column first appeared on LinkedIn.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Wrap Up your 2013 Holiday Hiring Wish List

Wrap Up your 2013 Holiday Hiring Wish ListWrap Up your 2013 Holiday Hiring Wish ListWrap Up your 2013 Holiday Hiring Wish ListDoes your business have the staff in place that youll need for this years holiday season?Research showsa surge in the2013 hiring season with warehouse hiring increasing at three times the rate of conventional retail sales positions, as reported in 2013 Retail Trade Market Watch.Warehouse-related jobs such as these are on the riseWarehouse supervisorin Job DescriptionWarehouse Operations Manager Job DescriptionWarehouse Manager Job Description SampleWarehouse Coordinator Job DescriptionWarehouse Worker Job DescriptionAs online job offerings for mail-order houses (shipping departments) showed a significant increase between July and September, growth was also reported in conventional retail sales positions, including positions such asRetail Salesperson Job Description SampleRetail Store Manager Sample Job DescriptionImprove your 2013 seasonal hiring results with these expert hiring tipsTap Local Talent for Seasonal HiringMake Seasonal Hiring Easier and More EfficientLearn more about Retail Industry hiring trends.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Simple Cover Letter for Resume Fundamentals Explained

Simple Cover Letter for Resume Fundamentals Explained The Dos and Donts of Simple Cover Letter for Resume Job applications are often done at a time when youre under pressure to find a new job so people have a tendency to default to copying a titelseite letter template from the web. Networking has the capability to aid you crack protocol. You are able to write for the employers and yours as well and keep in mind that youre not permitted to earn spelling mistakes for the very first impression. Additional the attitude within her letter is quite arrogant. If youre referred by somebody, do indicate in the very first paragraph her or his complete name and their affiliation with the business or the employer. Your very first paragraph should tell your story in a manner that shows youre ideal for the job. For instance, a deckblatt letter is a terrific place to speak about a career shift or maybe to explain a lengthy gap in employment. Contact the company and find out who it should be addressed to. A good cover letter is your opportunity to prove that you know the reach of the role and the businesss mission. A cover letter thats composed by means of a person for the very first time needs to be carried out so after considering so many aspects. The Characteristics of Simple Cover Letter for Resume You are more inclined to comprehend about occupation and business opportunities if you have gotten a big and potent network. Ensure you mention the equipment youve used and the different techniques that youre familiarized with. You will see distinctive kinds of templates that can be helpful for preparing certificates for tutorial uses, sporting activities needs in plus-rechnen to achievements within the industry circle.Youre the merchandise and that is the way you should convey yourself. If youre asking for work in marketing or sales, you will need to highlight key performance metrics. Plug in your info and youre all set to send off your application. It is crucial to figure out the status of your job application. The Chronicles of Simple Cover Letter for Resume Implementing the appropriate resume format is every bit as critical in fast draw the interest of a prospective employer. A significant number of templates and formats to organize a certification can be located over the web. In case the template appears different than the example it may be because you overlook t have the most suitable font. It is seen in PSD format. There are a large array of cover letter templates readily available on the www that make it simpler for you to draft a cover letter. When you present a cover letter thats tailored for the work position that youre applying for and that it wasnt written employing a cliche structure, odds are, you will surely stick out from the pack. The forthcoming free resume template was invented in the shape of a booklet. Simple cover letters are simple to write. Just like all cover letters, it ought to be concentrated on the rea ders point of view when writing it. Carefully think about the details youre likely to include in order to pull attention and be sure that each of the crucial details is in the letter. Including a cover letter with your application materials can grant you the chance to highlight and improve the info on your resume. Regardless of what engineering track youre on, your cover letter should highlight problem solving skills and the ability to satisfy quality standards. Many others say only the option. Take a peek at all the samples to find a concept of distinct formats, even if youre targeting a particular career path. So however much experience youve got, our examples will enable you to get started.When it isnt formatted correctly, you might be passing up the work prospect. Researching the companywill help dictate the tone that you want to use, which might differ greatly, based on the place you apply. You comprehend the needs. Its very challenging once you wind up in need of some other job.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Where to Find Resume Esamples

Where to Find Resume Esamples Speaking of unique, the most important aim of your resume is to make you stick out from the remainder of the folks applying for the exact same job and anotlageher means to create that happen is to use action verbs and power words (also called resume verbs). Understanding how to start can be the largest challenge and looking at examples can be quite useful. Most men and women look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. Your job (while youre attempting to find a job) is to make certain you fit what theyre searching for. Theres an excellent chance it wont include all the keywords set out in the work description. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. Each time you submit an application for a new job, check your resume to guarantee that it is not only targeted, but in addition current. Even in the event youve never held an official job, its still true that you have lif e experience thats applicable to the work search. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better likelihood of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. Once it does, its still true that you have to hold their focus to make it to the upcoming measures. If you need assistance figuring out the best way to do so, take a look at our office worker resume samples and expert writing tips. Once youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to know how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a highly effective accomplishment statement. Resume Esamples - the Conspiracy When applying for an IT job, you will probably should get through an HR representative who may not be well-versed in the technical facets of the position. You can begin by reviewing the description mentioned in the job listing. Transportation jobs involve a great deal of responsibility and your res ume will want to reflect you can manage that. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. The War Against Resume Esamples For example, if you have a substantial employment gap since your final position, you can want to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one. Below youll find a number of samples for job applicants. Take a look at the samples to observe in what way the candidates discuss their accomplishments. If for no other reason, acquiring the resume will enable you to easily finish all the on-line profiles teams require prospects to finish. For someone in the building and labor field, acquiring an abundance of skills and experience is crucial. Careers in the health care industry need a broad range of expertise and education. You also ought to chat about past experience. Distinct kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with several of the exact skills. You want to not just catch the hiring managers eyeyou m ust make certain that they study your statement and say Whew You need to have five objective statements. The resume summary will act as their sales pitch. If this is the case, you may be the ideal candidate for a sales associate job. Resume Esamples - Overview Since many job seekers may list skills in another section of their resume, in addition, it is important to weave them into descriptions under every one of your prior positions. Notice how the example resumes are extremely specific when it has to do with technical skills. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. If so, your resume can nevertheless be quantified, and provide the hiring manager a concrete idea of the range of your abilities and abilities. Your jobs could possibly be varied, your experience and abilities vast, and it can be hard getting it all on paper. If youre not certain which skills that you want to share, consider your prior experiences. 3 First, you should pi ck the best skills for your resume. Listing your skills provides a chance to showcase your abilities and experiences to prime employers for the remainder of your resume. A simple resume template is going to be your very best bet. Use the examples to obtain a notion of formatting and precisely what details you must include. You also only have one page to capture all the attributes you would like to share. You dont need to invent a totally new layout. The New Fuss About Resume Esamples Your resume needs to fix an issue for employers (which is the reason why theyre hiring). If you would like to catch the interest of the hiring manager, you need to give them what they want. Most significantly, it aids the hiring manager quickly grasp the range of the applicants experiences. If youre attempting to obtain work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. Utilizing a short, direct, concise, yet intriguing e-mail will make it possible for the hiring manager to rapidly see that you might be the ideal candidate the business is seeking. Remember that its important to tailor the letter in line with the providers mission and the work role youre seeking for. Essentially, you wish to quickly portray that youre a best candidate for those varieties of jobs youre pursuing. Finding a nice job can be exceedingly difficult no matter your profession with incredibly qualified applicants being your strongest competitors in the industry. If youre asking for work in marketing or sales, you will need to highlight key performance metrics. In some cases, a sales associate resume will also should include cold calling and client service duties also. Your sales associate resume needs to appear professional if you wish to have your credentials stick out in a crowded field. The sales and marketing business is one predicated on your capacity to sell goods or services to the general public.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

5 Interview Questions to Ask Recent Graduates - Spark Hire

5 Interview Questions to Ask Recent Graduates - Spark HireEach and every year more and more recent graduates are released into the job market with hopes of starting their careers off right. They grab internships left and right to get their foot in the door, and those with the right ambition will work extremely hard to succeed. With such a sluggish job market (and an unemployment rate of 12.7 percent for 20 to 24-year-olds as of August) the competitive drive of job landseekers has increased greatly. As a hiring manager or employer, this means you will have a plethora of applications to skim through, but its likely you will have a plethora of talent to choose from as well. Recent graduates and young workers are a great source of talent to tap into and they can bring a lot to the table for a company. They are willing to put in the hard work and are ready to apply what they learned in the classroom to real life.Since recent graduates and young job seekers dont have as much working experi ence as older job seekers, the vorstellungsgesprch process may go slightly different than usual. That shouldnt be a problem though. Most college graduates have already invested time in an internship and can draw examples from that experience. They also have a wealth of experience from navigating around the classroom and having dozens of different bosses (professors) the past few years. Asking the right kind of einstellungsgesprch questions will get you the right kind of answers.So what kind of interview questions can you ask recent graduates to test their motivation, integrity, and passion for the industry? Of course, passion in your job isnt always necessary, but youll find that a lot of recent graduates are extremely passionate about what they studied. The following questions may not be staple interview questions, but they will certainly help you gain insight into your recent graduate job seekers.Describe how you managed your time in a class where you had multiple projects at once or where deadlines were frequent. Recent graduates may not have the most experience in managing time in the office, but they have certainly picked up time-management skills from their coursework. That is, of course, if they were successful college students. Asking interview questions like this forces your candidate to address their time-management skills and gives you insight into how they handled multiple deadlines in the past.Tell me about a time you did work that welches below average and work that was above average. What were the differences?No matter what they tell you, nearly every student has had a project or assignment that they skimped on. By the same token, every employee can say the same thing about a project or assignment at work. We are only human and cant always give 110 percent. Good job seekers will answer honestly and will compare and contrast the different situations. Their answer might give you insight into how much integrity they have- which is important informa tion you will want to gather from your job seekers.In your coursework, you probably had to work in a group more than once. Tell me about a time you disagreed with a group member and how you worked it out. Being able to work with fellow coworkers is a quality you want in job seekers and obviously your employees. Interview questions such as this target past conflicts between a team member and force the candidate to tell you how they solved the issue. Conflicts are bound to arise in the workplace and you want to be sure you have employees that know how to deal with them and solve them.Tell me about a time you clashed with a professors teaching style and how you worked around it. There will always be a time when employees clash with employers. They will not always see eye to eye. Experienced job seekers, even job seekers that have only had one job, will certainly have an example of when they clashed with a boss. Recent graduates may not have a working situation to hark back to, but they probably didnt get along swimmingly with each of their professors. Ask them this interview question and gain a better understanding of how they dealt with a power struggle or a disagreement with a higher-up.Tell me about a time you assumed a leadership role and how it worked out. Its always great to have employees that are born leaders- or even ones that taught themselves leadership qualities. Even in the classroom, leaders flourish. Ask your candidate about how they showed their leadership skills before and see if they have the qualities you need in an employee.As you can see, most of these questions fall under the behavioral interview category and really test how candidates handled situations in the past. This works perfectly even for recent graduates. Tap into the young talent that is out there in the job market and use these interview questions to find the top candidates.What kind of interview tactics do you use when you interview recent graduates? Share with us in the comments section below

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering Career Part 1

12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering Career Part 1 12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering Career Part 1 12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering Career Part 1Engineers excel at solving problems, but developing soft skills to enhance careers isnt always a top priority. Scoring an interview means you have the technical chops. After that, its all about marketing yourself, asking the right questions, making good connections, and choosing the paths that lead toward career goals. Without those, youre just another number in a large crowd of engineers.Many recent grads like Jordan Duhe, a design engineer at Noble Plastics in Grand Coteau, LA, pleked up key intangibles on the job, with college providing a good educational base. Colleges like Missouri University of Science and Technology organize projects and competitions so students develop skills like negotiation, teamwork and presentation, says Christopher Ramsay, the universitys assistant vice provost for student design.D ont be just another engineer. Here are 12 soft skills you should develop to succeed in your job interviews and career.Even when you are negotiating for a salary, you are selling yourself. Salloum Nicole, Capgemini consultant Practice your communications and presentation skills. Explain concepts crisply and clearly.1) Communicate Communication is perhaps the biggest challenge for engineers, but its also the most important skill to pick up for a successful career. For some its natural, for others it comes via practice and being more social. Youve got to learn it as you go, says Brandon Graham, experiential learning lab supervisor at Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, who started developing his communication skills at the college level. I wanted to be involved in clubs, and the only way to do that was to be more social, Graham says. Engineers may relate to books like Dale Carnegies Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking, which provides a methodical and s tructured way to pick up communication skills.2) Presentation Avoid jargon. Work on simplifying and crisply explaining concepts, says Carlos Beatty, engineer and member of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles corporate leadership development program. When you are in front of management and people and they start to question, how do you deal with that? Beatty says. Its one thing to give a presentation and be questioned, another thing to give a presentation and be challenged. For a management position, the ability to pull your ideas together and sway opinion is key. Brush up on Powerpoint too.Learn a few interviewing basics that will help you nail that dream job3) Sell yourself In the professional world, you are selling all the time, whether its ideas, answers, jobs, or products, says Nicole Salloum, a consultant at Capgemini and professional trainer at ASME. Even when you are negotiating for a salary, you are selling yourself, Salloum says. One of the best ways to sell yourself is to prove yours elf. Volunteer for additional assignments or projects that will add to your skills, advance your career, and allow you to work with some of the companys shining stars and key players.4) Dont be just another engineer If you score an engineering job interview, its assumed you have technical competence. But companies really want differentiators. You could be a rock-star with a high GPA, but your importance boils down to the value you provide to a company. Value needs to be built, and it can start in job interviews, where good questions could impress interviewers, says Noble Plastics Duhe. Engineers with finance and technology skills are also highly sought.5) Negotiate your value Rookies cant go in and demand a salary, but they can negotiate a position that could lead to higher pay in the future. Thats tied to the earlier point of differentiating yourself from others and not being just another face in the crowd. If you negotiate your position, thats different. In three years, you know y our position and have a good projection, thats when you put yourself at a point of leverage, Beatty says. The purpose of leverage is so you know you have value. You know what that monetary value is so you can differentiate. Without that, youre just another number.6) Self-confidence Self-confidence is all about showing what youre capable of doing, but building that can be challenging. For Salloum, it meant doing new things. She took on a big challenge when she applied for a job working on the supply chain for a spirits company. They are always afraid to send women - for example to bars - for sales, Salloum says. Owners of bars may be more comfortable talking about this man to man.See Part 2 of 12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering Career for more tips such as learning humility, creating your own brand, and the power of networking.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

When Color Blindness Gets in the Way of Your Career Dreams

When Color Blindness Gets in the Way of Yur Career Dreams When Color Blindness Gets in the Way of Your Career Dreams At some point, pretty much everyone wanted to grow up to be a police officer, a fighter pilot, a firefighter, or a doctor. Something no kid ever imagines is that a common medical issue could get in the way of those childhood dreams.Eight percent of men and 0.5 percent of women, or about 12 million Americans, are at least partially color blind. Unfortunately, thecondition can impact career choices.I used to be a combat engineer in the U.S. Army, a position that requires normal color vision. Combat engineers regularly handle explosives, and my understanding is that certain types of color blindness can cause fatal accidents. Upon further contemplation, Ive often wondered what other jobs could be affected by something as common as color blindness.The Doctor Is InAs it turns out, a number of professional choices can be negatively impactedby a color blindness diagnosis.Med icine, electricians, pilots, truck drivers, chefs, fashion, and many other occupations where people dont even realize theres a problem, says Dr. fruchtmark Changizi, a neuroscientist and inventor of corrective lenses for color blindness at 2AI Labs. One of the most common and most dangerous areas for colorblindness is in medicine. This is something doctors have noticed as far back as John Dalton in 1794, who himself was color blind, and said, he could scarcely distinguish mud from blood on his stockings.This makes the condition a big problem for anyone in the medical profession.Veins are imperceptible, as is cyanosis, erythema, rashes, etc., Changizi says. This is a serious handicap for physicians, nurses, paramedics, and other medical personnel. Color blind medical personnel are actually suffering from something I call health blindness. This refers to a limitation of naked-eye diagnostic skills due to color blindness.One of the most difficult problems of being color blind is that you may not know that you have the condition.Blindness to ones color blindness is common, says Changizi. After all, theres no label in a color deficients visual field saying the true color may be different than it appears. In light of people often being blind to their color deficiency, the dangers I mentioned for medicine are actually much worse. Not only are color deficients missing key medical signs, but they (and their patients and colleagues) dont even realize they are.Color Blindness on the JobColor blindness doesnt only affect doctors. It can affect any number of workers in myriad ways. amtsstube workers may have trouble reading charts and graphs, web designers might struggle to make a visually friendly site, and professional drivers could struggle to read some traffic lights.Color blindness testing is a factor only for a small number of jobs, including very easy tests for truckers and more serious tests for pilots, Changizi says. Some countries have, at various times, had co lor blind tests for physicians in training, but currently there is no testing in the U.S.Dr. Changizis Color Deficiency Correcting GlassesThe good news is that technologies are now in play that can correct color blindness disorders for most people.In 2006, I made a discovery on what our color vision is for, that its actually optimally designed for seeing emotion and health color states on the face, like blushes and blanches and flushes, Changizi says. Its actually optimized for seeing key facets of the blood just under the skin, and thats why color blind people are so bad at seeing health states.Once Changizi had discovered this about color vision, he and his partner, Tim Barber, were able to figure out what needed to be done to correct color deficiencies. This lead to the creation of Color Blind Glasses that amplify the proper signals.Not all colorblindness technologies enhance the signal our color vision is designed to see, and so dont correct color vision correctly, Changizi says . But his and Barbers glasses do.While most color blind people have likely learned to adapt to their conditions, that may not be the case for everyone. For those who struggle with color blindness at their jobs, checking out thelatest technologies might make a day at the office (or behind the wheel, or in a cockpit) a bit less stressful.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

How To Quit A Job Gracefully

How To Quit A Job Gracefully How To Quit A Job Gracefully Finding a new job, leaving an old one and getting acclimated to a new professional culture is a series of big life changes. I’m always eager to adjust to the new reality as quickly as I can. But what happens when that reality doesn’t seem to be a fit? There are some employees for whom fit is an ongoing struggle, but let’s suppose that’s not your issue. Instead, let’s say you have longevity in previous roles, and you have just accepted a great new job with the intention of throwing down roots there. Only the job or the culture is not what you were expecting, and you find that the position isn’t working out for you. I know. This feels deeply alarming. You are a seasoned professional. How did this happen to you? What now? When this happened to me I was relieved to learn that many of my contacts had similar experiences. It’s unsettling and stressful. But you can recover from this and so can your resume. So don’t think the sky is falling. This is fixable. Decide What You Need Examine what your gut is telling you. Is this a situation that is just not going to work out for you, or is this actually a toxic environment that is bad for you? How urgently do you need to get yourself out? If you feel like it’s safe enough, but it just falls short of ideal, then it may be salvageable. If you had a misunderstanding about the position, and it’s not what you were expecting, talk with your manager about this. Self-awareness and self-advocacy are positive qualities in a new hire, so let your manager in.     But as you do this self-analysis make sure that you are comfortable with your manager. Then carefully outline your communication plan for this important discussion. An orchestrated conversation about a difficult topic is more likely to have the results you need than an impromptu conversation. You should also meet with human resources to talk about the issues you are struggling with, especially if there was a misunderstanding about the position you accepted. Your HR colleagues may be able to offer support and perspective. It also helps in future job interviews, when you discuss a brief stint on a resume, to cite an HR meeting. This shows you were thorough in your efforts to work through your issues with the ill-fitting position.     When to Cut Your Losses If, on the other hand, you don’t feel comfortable in the culture. If it is a toxic or negative workplace and you don’t want to continue there, then plan a graceful resignation. It is still in your best interest to have a conversation about what you have experienced, but in this case it will likely serve you better to go directly to HR rather than one of the agents of the cultural dysfunction.   Moving Forward Your resume is a bank of work. If you have a questionable entry, you will probably be asked about it, but don’t assume it’s a deal breaker. It’s not. If your resume indicates a track record of good fit in a range of positions, then a recent short stint can be explained away. Use these tips to help you put your negative experiences into perspective  once you make your way back onto the interview circuit.   My experience was painful and stressful. I won’t say “I’m glad it happened.” But I wouldn’t trade the benefit I earned by living through it. Hang in there. These situations really do have a way of working out.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

This is the 1 leadership skill people tend to overlook

This is the 1 leadership skill people tend to overlook This is the 1 leadership skill people tend to overlook There are several key leadership skills all great CEOs possess: honesty, humility, empathy, the ability to delegate. Smarts.I’ve been blessed to work with, and for, a variety of leaders who possess these skills. CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Editors of small Oregon newspapers. Today, I lead my own company - BookBaby, the nation’s eminent self publishing services company - but in developing and honing my personal leadership style, I’ve studied the people I’ve worked for in the past, analyzing what, exactly, made them so effective. What accounts for their ability to inspire, unite, create?The answer I return to time and time again stems from what on the surface may seem like a surprising source: their ability to tell great stories.Storytelling is the most underrated tool in business. It’s certainly proved the most impactful tool in my management career. In fact, I believe that in order to be a truly great leader, you need to be able to tell great stories.It’s unlikely yo u can run a successful, durable business otherwise.Simply put, stories inspireTo tell great stories is to convey the intangible, articulate the ineffable, and, yes, inspire the dejected. This is because great stories revolve around people - who they are, what they do, why they’re important. Telling stories about your employees, for your employees, can be a powerful way of engaging with them.Consider how much more impactful it is during an all-hands meeting to replace vague praise - “Good job on that quarterly report, Karen!” - with specific praise in the form of an engaging narrative: “Karen helped this new romance author achieve her dreams for her first book, starting with suggesting book editing, then with helping her understand why eBooks are preferred for romance readers. Now, she’s selling thousands of books on Amazon. Outstanding work, Karen!”This is backed up by science. A large 10-year, 100,000-person study conducted by HealthStream asked employees what they n eed most from their employers. Respondents with the highest morale reported that their managers were effective at singling them out for recognition, often by way of telling stories about the great work they’d done.Stories help teams and organizations bondSpeaking of science, Uri Hasses of Princeton University once conducted a study in which he analyzed brain activity in audiences as they listened to a speaker tell a story. He compared their brain activity to that of the speaker. He found that both the speaker and the listeners’ brains were operating and engaging on similar wavelengths when the story was being told, even though just one person was producing language - the others were merely consuming it.What this proves is telling a great story is quite literally a means of connection, which means it can double as a way to foster cohesion around a mission, a process, or a culture.Storytelling is the best medium of communication. The best leaders I’ve worked for have articulated who they are and what’s important to them through stories.To lead effectively, one must be identifiable as a real person. You must be relatable, approachable, and trustworthy. Telling stories about yourself or your experience is a great way to make yourself known like this.Stories prove powerful in explaining impersonal things, too. Especially when it comes to conveying your views on delicate issues such as diversity, inclusion, or some controversial new strategy - explanations which require nuance, subtly, definitions of ideas and feelings which are inherently hard to define - stories almost always prove more effective than PowerPoint slides or Excel sheets.That said, telling great stories is harder than you thinkIn his landmark book, “The Tipping Point,” Malcolm Gladwell identifies a key ingredient of telling great stories called, “The Stickiness Factor.” He defines The Stickiness Factor as “the quality that compels people to pay close, sustained attention to a product, concept, or idea.”So what kinds of stories are “Sticky”? They’re the ones that prove: Tangible and succinct. No management-speak is ever wanted or needed. Full of metaphors and analogies. Strong, image-invoking language adds impact and broadens context. Full of emotion. Emotion drives many peoples’ decisions. Don’t be afraid to appeal to both the logical and emotional parts of the brain. Surprising! Want to make your stories really sticky? Include a plot twist or surprise. Studies show surprise triggers the release of adrenaline in the brain, which enhances memory formation. At the end of the day, not everyone will be an incredibly engaging storyteller. It’s harder for some than it is for others. Yet the best way to improve - other than lending credence to the advice above - is somewhat simple: start listening.The biggest barrier to telling stories at work is not having stories to tell.Tomorrow’s leaders need to start collecting their own stories today. You never know when something teachable and memorable will happen to you. When it does, write it down, and file it away.Who knows? Your next great story - along with the next, more impactful chapter of your leadership career - is likely waiting to be told.This article was originally published on Medium.

Monday, November 18, 2019

4 soft skills you should have mastered by age 30

4 soft skills you should have mastered by age 30 4 soft skills you should have mastered by age 30 By the time you’re blowing out the candles on your 30th birthday cake, most professionals have been working for a solid eight years. Throw in internships from college (remember those days?) - and you might have upwards of a decade of experience as you reach the end of the first third of your life. Gulp.While you’ve likely been working tirelessly to learn an invaluable hard skill - coding computers, writing, strategy, analytics and so on - how do you measure up on the other half of your job performance?Soft skills are not as discussed as technical proficiencies, but as career expert and entrepreneur Christopher Kingman explains, soft skills are related to the interaction between two or more people and speak volumes about your ability to be a leader.Here, the indisputable soft skills you should have mastered by the time you reach the big 3-0:Active listeningWe all have someone in our lives - whether a treasured best friend or a parent or sibling - who just seems to “get you. ” No matter what earth-shattering or minuscule issue you’re going through, what you need advice about or achievement you need to celebrate, he or she is fully present with an open heart - and ears. Kingman says these types of people have mastered the art of active listening.While it might seem like anyone can do this, if they, ya know, listen - the keyword here is “active.” He explains this method refers not merely waiting for your turn to throw in two cents in but listening with a purpose.“This is listening with the intention of seeking to understand what the person is telling you with and without words,” he continues.To test if you’ve nailed this, Kingman says to pay attention the next time someone discusses something of importance with you. Instead of considering your response, stay right in the moment.“Pay attention to the words, timing, cadence, pauses and emotion in how they speak. Once they are done, validate what they said, and repeat back their version of what they told you,” he suggests. “If you really did hone in on words, timing, cadence, pauses and emotion, you’ll be able to recount their story, and its impact clearly. Active listening is about ingesting and processing what people are saying, and demonstrating that their message resonates with you.”Servant leadershipEveryone has a different leadership style but others are more successful and accepted than others. For career expert Joy Altimare, managers are most effective when they direct with a mind towards servitude. As defined, it’s a concept that suggests that true leaders understand the importance of the following characteristics as it relates to building and managing a loyal, high-performing team: listening, empathy, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community.Altimare says this style composed of many soft skills is a refreshing, desirable quality. “It is important for leaders to go beyond their ‘corporate values,’ and become invested in encouraging an environment that supports performance, collaboration, and camaraderie,” she adds.Effective communicationThis seems like a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how poorly some people can communicate. Now, I’m not talking about varying degrees of vocabulary â€" despite what grade school made you believe, most people don’t speak or write with complicated words. I’m talking about people’s ability to convey a message, or to get to the point. The challenge with communication is that just like anything else it’s a skill, one that gets stronger as you develop it. Kingsman explains that one of the false assumptions is that it is inherently a skill everyone has, but, expert communicators are those who get their message to listeners so they understand it.“They do it directly, succinctly and with little meandering or wavering. Simply put, they get the point across,” he adds.To improve your communication ski lls, Kingsman has one very important tip that’s easier than you think: pause. Much like your parents recommended you think before you speak when you were growing up, the same advice applies throughout your professional career, too. Kingsman suggests simply counting to three.“You’d be surprised how many thoughts pass through our brains in three seconds, let alone the ways to say what you need to say,” he continues. “When you leverage that pause, think to yourself, ‘what am I saying?’ and ‘Will it be understood?’ Being conscious of what you say and how you say it is the mark of a good communicator.”Emotional intelligenceOf all the skills to master before you enter your thirties, emotional intelligence is the most difficult and demanding, according to Kingsman. While it encompasses many aspects, Kingsman says, generally speaking, this is your ability to recognize and be aware of your emotions, others’ emotions, and practicing empathy for them. Sometimes this is an easy task: crying indicates sadness, while smiling usually means happiness. But when you really develop your EQ, as Kingsman puts it, you have the foresight to dig deeper.“Besides seeing and recognizing emotions, this skill helps us navigate social situations, make complex choices, and is arguably one of the key factors in our success,” he explains. “We need smart people to do things like run electrical grids and design clean energy, we also need people to interact in meaningful ways. Having emotional intelligence, both being aware of your own emotions and others, helps bridge the gap between people and situations.”When you’re able to pick up on the obvious and dubious signals people send, you’re more likely to gain their trust, foster stronger connections and overall, be perceived as a thoughtful, sincere human.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

6 Strange Job Interview Questions

6 Strange Job Interview Questions 6 Strange Job Interview Questions 4The anticipation. A bit of excitement. Probably a dash of anxiety. Job interviews can bring on a mixed bag of emotions. Then there are the times when the employer asks some really strange job interview questions and it feels like everything comes to a screeching halt. Conventional wisdom says when faced with a difficult interview question, try to figure out what bit of information the interviewer is trying to find out through the question and answer that. As we have learned through personal experiences and stories from our blog readers, sometimes it’s more complicated than that. Here are six strange interview questions with the great- and not-so-great- responses that were given: Interviewer: If I (interviewer and potential boss) died tomorrow what would you do? Asking the candidate what they would do if they themselves knew that they were going to die tomorrow makes sense. It gives the interviewer an opportunity to determine the person’s values, priorities, and motivations. But really? What would you do if a person you were meeting for the first time died tomorrow? Give your condolences to their replacement? Interviewer: Which Saved by the Bell character are you most like? “I said ‘Lisa Turtle’ but it came out more l like ‘Lisa Turtle?’ because, really, who can answer that question definitively?” Interviewer: I’m going to be upfront with you. This company sucks. I mean, it really sucks. We suck and the team sucks. If there’s a wrong way to do something, that’s what we do. Why do you want to work here? “I don’t suck.” Interviewer (To an internship candidate in her 50s): Most of my employees are fresh out of high school and are constantly goofing off. Are you sure you want to work with a bunch of kids who lack discipline? “Are you sure you shouldn’t be interviewing for a babysitter?” I didn’t get the job, but I think he heeded my advice, as he hired another student from my school who was in her late 40s. Interviewer: You have to work with a lot of young people. Do you think you can keep up and not be insulted by the way they treat you? “What kind of manager are you?” Its possible that a better response would have been, I can definitely keep up and probably share my experience for the benefit of the team. Of course, Ill expect to be treated with the same respect that I will treat everyone here with. Interviewer: How do you feel about working 50 hours a week? “I am looking for more flexibility than that. Is it possible to job share this position?” Rolling with the punches, as well as one can, is the best way to get through an unconventional interview. Do your best to prepare for different types of interviews as a job seeker and, worst case, hope that your sense of humor and frankness impress! What strange job interview questions have you been faced with in the past? Tell us in the comments section and you might see your answer in a future blog post!

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Are the Keys to Future Success in The Good Old Days

Are the Keys to Future Success in ''The Good Old Days'' Are the Keys to Future Success in ''The Good Old Days'' Learn from the past to create a blueprint for future triumphs.In 1989 I was the head soccer coach at DePaul University. It was a remarkably good learning experience even though my salary came out to exactly $11.51 per day ($4200 divided by 365 days) for recruiting, scheduling, coaching, driving the team bus and countless one-on-one meetings with the players. In truth, I would have paid DePaul for the opportunity. I was 27 years old and it was my fifth and final year as a college coach.Our starting goalkeeper that year was Rich Horwath. Rich was an exceptionally focused, intense, and prepared player. His leadership, passion, and skills helped us to be competitive in every game we played against our very tough NCAA Division I schedule. After that final season I stayed in touch with Rich for about six more months, and then we lost track of each other.Twenty-one years later I was walking through the bookstore in the Orlando airport. I scanned the business section and saw an intriguing bo ok called, “Deep Dive: Mastering the Three Disciplines of Strategic Thinking for Competitive Advantage”. I had been looking for a good book on business strategy so I started flipping through it. Wondering who wrote it, I closed the book and looked for the author’s name. It was by Rich Horwath. I thought to myself, “I knew a Rich Horwath. I wonder if these two guys are related.” I flipped to the back cover, and there was Rich staring me in the face as though he had never changed. I bought the book and started studying it immediately. It was an exceptionally well-written and clear book on a topic that often becomes amazingly complicated.I went to Rich’s website, tracked him down, and met with him for lunch in Chicago. In listening to his stories about the past two decades I realized that what made Rich such an exceptionally good goalkeeper was the same thing that has made him a tremendously successful management consultant in the area of business strategy. He has maintaine d the same process of having clear objectives, a well-defined action plan, relentless focus, and the capacity to change and improve.The Downside of Defining Yourself by Your SuccessesI’ve had two careers of equal length. For thirteen years I was a math teacher and soccer coach in university and high school settings. For the past thirteen years I have been a keynote speaker, seminar leader, and executive coach on leadership, innovation, and branding for business executives and managers. There have been a few key common denominators between the academic and corporate environments.One of the biggest has been that formerly successful people who were unable to sustain their success failed to make the connection between their past successes and their potential future successes. Sometimes great athletes and theater performers did poorly in the classroom even though they demonstrated great thinking skills in the areas where they thrived. Straight ‘A’ students were unable to grasp the mental approach necessary to succeed in sports or theater. Great sales people were unable to manage effectively.The problem for many of them was the way they saw themselves. A student would say, “I’m an All-State Soccer Player. I’m not a math guy.”An adult would say, “I’m an operations guy. I can’t work with marketing people.” Highly successful people were trapping themselves in very tightly confined quarters because they saw themselves as only being able to be successful in the area where they had gained the most positive recognition.Sustain Success by Seeing Accomplishments as Processes, Not EventsRather than looking at your life as the bullet points on a resume, look at it as a series of journeys. Each one of those journeys provides you with insights on how you can improve your performance today and in the future in other areas of your life. The key is to ask, “How did I succeed?” rather than “What did I achieve?”Walk with me through a simple exercise.Writ e down three major successes you have had at any point in your life. Put a little detail around each of them so that you remember them as though they have just happened.Now for each of your three successes write down your answers to each of these questions: What was your objective? What were the obstacles you had to overcome? Specifically what steps did you take to overcome the obstacles and achieve the desired outcome? What are you trying to achieve today? How can you duplicate some of your previous steps for success in your current situation? Far too often we brag about “the good old days” without realizing that those situations hold within them the codes for succeeding today. Sometimes people think that their past successes were solely the result of market conditions or being in the right place at the right time. Well, what caused you to be in the right place at the right time? What actually led up to you being ready for those ripe market conditions? Don’t buy this nonsense that times are tough and there’s no way to succeed. Times have always been tough, and people have always found ways to succeed. This era is no different than any other. You have to take the time to figure out what made you successful in the past, and then apply those steps to the new challenge you are facing.Be Master of Your Own ClassroomOn her new show, Master Class, which is on her own network called the Oprah Winfrey Network or OWN, highly successful people talk about what has made them successful. I’ve enjoyed every minute of every epis ode. Some of the best stories came from Oprah herself as she explained how she replicated her success in high school in a wide variety of formats from interviewing people on a talk show to being an actress to creating a magazine. She makes a great point that life is a classroom and that we can all learn from our own lives. The key is to dig into your past successes not as a photo album, but rather as a dvd on how to succeed in other areas of your life.In reviewing your successes, you might realize that they took longer than you remembered. Persevering through years of hard work created your successes in the past and is required for your successes in the future.Expand this Mindset to Your Whole Organization How did The Walt Disney Company move from making animated short films to full-length animated feature films to theme parks to television shows? How did Marriott move from root-beer stands to upscale, full-service hotels to amazing resorts around the world? How did Apple move from making computers to changing the telephone and music industries? How did Google go from search engines to global maps? How can your company go from what it does well today to providing far greater value in the future? I believe the key is to identify what has made your organization successful in the past and then to reapply those steps today and in the future. Take the time to study the biography of your own life and the history of your organization, extract the proven processes for success, and then reapply them over and over again.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Glassdoor Reveals the Average American Is Underpaid By $7,500

Glassdoor Reveals the Average American Is Underpaid By $7,500 Glassdoor Reveals the Average American Is Underpaid By $7,500 Have you ever had the sneaking suspicion that you could be making more than what you’re earning at your current job? According to new salary data from Glassdoor, you might be right. Using information gathered by the Know Your Worthâ„¢ personalized salary estimator, Glassdoor discovered that the average U.S. employee could be earning $7,528, or 13.3 percent, more per year than his or her current annual base salary.* Why might this be, exactly? Well, for one, “we’re in the best labor market we’ve seen in a generation,” said Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, Glassdoor chief economist. “With the job market full of opportunities and the economy hitting full employment, the value of skilled workers has increased. We see this even more in industries like technology and healthcare , in which demand for competitive skillsets outpaces supply.” The problem, though, is that not enough employees are using this increased market value to their advantage. In fact, Glassdoor found that three in five U.S. employees did not negotiate their salaries upon being offered a job, with rates even lower among certain groups - for example, 68 percent of women accepted a salary offer without negotiating compared to 52 percent of men. “The big takeaway for job seekers is that our Know Your Worth tool can shed light on your current market value, based in part on market conditions where you live, to help you decide whether it’s time to negotiate your pay,” Chamberlain said - so if you haven’t yet gotten your free, personal salary estimate , there’s no time like the present. Beyond helping you calculate your market value, Glassdoor is also making it easier for you to earn what you deserve by introducing an improved, customized salaries experience . With the latest updates, you can now research salary data for a specific job title in a particular location and filter this information by years of experience, industry and/or company size. You’ll also be able to see a helpful data visualization of your salaries search, displaying the average and specific ranges of annual base pay based on your preferences, a comparison to the national average, additional cash compensation data and salaries for related job titles, among other insights. While salary isn’t everything when it comes to your career contentment - maybe what matters most to you is culture and values, career opportunities or trust in senior leadership - it is a major consideration that anyone who is about to accept a job offer or negotiate a raise should take into account. If you find that your current pay is at odds with your Know Your Worth estimate, it’s time to initiate a salary discussion with your recruiter, manager, HR department or whoever else is in charge of compensation at your company. Who knows how much money you could be leaving on the table? *Pay data based on the 1.3 million U.S. employees who submitted their current base pay to the Know Your Worth tool between October 18, 2016 and October 6, 2017.  Learn more about the Know Your Worth methodology: https://www.glassdoor.com/knowyourworth/about.htm

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

4 Common VLC Android Issues Solved

4 Common VLC Android Issues Solved 4 Common VLC Android Issues Solved Developers, meet VLC Android, a mobile version of VLC, the great desktop open-source media player. VLC Android is relatively new, and, just like any new friend, it’s worth taking the time to get to know it. These four tips will help you get started developing with VLC Android. 1. Dude, where’s my passport? It’s no secret that VLC Android Beta isn’t yet available for U.S. or Canadian users, even though it’s on Google Play. You can access the software via nightly builds from the VideoLAN project website, or by setting your VPN to look like you’re working in another country. 2. Super-size me: file management issues File management is a work-in-progress for VLC Android, so resulting apps may be plus-size. Since Google Play only allows apps that are 50 MB or less, file-size issues can be a problem. To remedy this, use either a main or patch expansion file (each up to 2 GB). The main file serves your app’s main resources needs; the patch is designed for small updates. Locate expansion files here: shared-storage/Android/obb/package-name/shared-storage is the path to the shared storage space, available from getExternalStorageDirectory(). package-name is your application’s Java-style package name, available from getPackageName(). You can also disable many of the contrib modules that you don’t intend to use. This reduces the amount of statically linked libs and could drastically reduce your file size. Not seeing the results? Don’t forget to cleanly rebuild your tree after the changes by using the following code: source env.sh3. The inevitable crash Of course, your app-in-development will crash at times. If VLC Android crashes, look for a vlc_logcat_date and some numbers.log file in your SD card’s root and retrieve it using your phone file transfer or an open-source file browser like OI File Manager. If no vlc_logcat_....log file appears, the crash is likely native and requires a different kind of fix. Check the VideoLAN development wiki for advice. Other issues with VLC crashes can be resolved by checking in with the very active VLC Forum. For example, if your VLC crashes when streaming from a computer to Android, you can fix the problem easily. Go to VLC Direct menusettingsstreaming settings, and check “Avoid Audio Transcoding.” 4. Handle with care: security vulnerabilities The nonprofit-generated, open-source VLC freely admits its flaws. On the nightly build site, you’ll find the disclaimer that “issues that existed in previous versions of VLC might be fixed here, but since this version of VLC is not yet finished, you should expect other problems and issues.” The VLC Forum is the place to go to see if problems that have plagued you have been answered. One such issue, use-after-free vulnerabilities (attributed to the underlying FFmpeg library to which VLC statically links), may still exist in VLC. Security firm Secunia Research considers that the vulnerabilities still exist; VLC contends that the patches provided have resolved them. In short, VLC Android is a work in progress, but the opportunities for development are great. Want to know what a VLC Android developer makes in your area? Check out our salary calculator.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

5 Lessons Ive Learned From Being Laid Off

5 Lessons Ive Learned From Being Laid Off 5 Lessons Ive Learned From Being Laid Off When I lost my job in January, amid a company-wide restructuring, I wasn’t surprised. My co-workers and I had witnessed numerous reality-show-like rounds of layoffs in the months leading up to our dismissal. Even though I knew it was coming, what shocked me most about being let go was my initial reaction to it. Despite the cardboard box waiting on the front porch to carry my laptop and cell phone back to corporate headquarters, I remained in denial for the first few days. (OK, maybe weeks, but who’s counting?) I’d never lost a job before, and I was surprised at how completely disorienting it was. But as the months have passed, in between sending out resumes and fighting the urge to take my dream road trip (which includes hitting as many major league baseball parks and brew pubs as possible), I’ve picked up some hard-won wisdom about this unemployment business. If you’re in the same boat, here is the advice I’d pass on. 1. Mourn the Loss and Then Move On Though I knew the end was looming, actually hearing the words, “Your role within the company has been eliminated,” left me feeling strangely unmoored. Throughout the days that followed, my thoughts played their own game of Whac-A-Mole as colleagues I’d miss, assignments I’d never complete, and upcoming events I wouldn’t attend randomly flashed through my mind. It seemed strange to be mourning the loss of a job I’d often blamed for my new forehead wrinkles, so deep toddlers could bathe in them. Yet there I was, mooning over the relationships and connections I’d made that, unintentionally but invariably, would weaken over time. While I hated feeling like a pitiful sad-sack, my emotions are not so uncommon, according to licensed professional counselor Terri DiMatteo of Open Door Therapy. “Those dealing with job loss may be surprised to find themselves experiencing grief associated with loss of identity, of professional colleagues, and of the work routine,” DiMatteo explains. “The unexpected silver lining, however, can be the discovery of renewed passions that lay dormant while employed.” On that note: 2. Rediscover Your Interests Once I’d come to terms with the fact that my former employer wasn’t going to reappear like some sorry ex-boyfriend and beg me to come back, I embraced the hobbies I’d enjoyed before my work life devoured my personal life. For example: For the better part of two years, I’d felt horribly guilty each time my children drooled at the sight of an Olive Garden commercial. “Wow!” they’d say in unison. “That looks amazing!” I’d cringe as I’d close the microwave door on plates bearing an assortment of leftovers. Each time I’d tossed a frozen pie into the oven, I could feel my Italian grandmother giving me the evil eye from the great beyond. But when I was no longer rushing to meetings, compulsively checking email, or preparing for a phone call, I found I had the time to whip up my own commercial-worthy entrees. While I’m not saying I’ve earned a spot on Top Chef just yet, I’ve definitely rekindled my almost-forgotten love for cooking. Additionally, I finished reading four novels in my newfound free time. While I was working, I was lucky if I’d finish one every eight months. I’ve had library fines that could rival the national debt and, yes, I’ve been the gal who shows up at your book club meeting strictly for the wine and cheese. Not anymore! 3. Don’t Let Fear Be Your Life Coach Whoever says “don’t make decisions based on fear” hasn’t been pricing children’s footwear or summer camps lately. And yet, it seems like advice worth heeding. About a month after losing my job, I was offered a position that, at another time in my life, I would’ve considered an amazing opportunity. But because of a lengthy (and costly) commute coupled with an off-hours shift, I had to turn it down. Though I was scared to pass up this career move, I knew if I accepted it, I would be miserable and end up right back where I started- searching for a new job. While it’s easy to panic when you’ve sent out your 100th resume and received few calls for interviews, trust me: Jumping into a bad fit out of desperation isn’t the answer. 4. Resist Temptation For the last two years of my career, I was in love. With my laptop. But when I lost my job, our affair came to an abrupt end. It was with great sadness that I bubble-wrapped my beloved and said goodbye. It was barely on its way back to corporate headquarters when I decided to pull myself together, get back out there, and find a replacement. But, with no new job in sight and smarting from sticker shock, I realized I couldn’t afford to blow more than two weeks of unemployment when I already had a perfectly fine (albeit outdated) model at home. The siren song of the nap is another temptation to avoid. Many winter afternoons, I was dying to curl up with a blanket, but I knew if I gave in this would establish a bad habit I’d only need to break once I was working again. Instead, I joined a gym, which gave me an excuse to get out of the house each day (not to mention a reason to shower). I even survived my first spin class and found it cathartic, with the emotional highs and lows of Eat, Pray Love (but, sadly, none of the pizza). Resisting the urge to hide out at home can also help when it comes to making connections that could lead to your next position. “Try to stay in the mix, as landing a job is often about who you know,” DiMatteo also advises. 5. Keep Your Sense of Humor When faced with updating an ancient resume or ditching the sweatpants and stuffing myself into a dress and tights to meet potential employers, I quickly realized, if I didn’t keep laughing I’d soon be crying. Plus, after interviewing for the first time in a few years, I’ve learned that these aren’t your parents’ job application questions! I found that maintaining my sense of humor helped enormously as I was forced to explain what I’d choose as my personal theme song or why I was the best candidate for the position in 160 characters or less. Let’s face it: No one wants to hire someone who lost her wit along with her weekly paycheck. Staying positive and focusing on all the things I’d missed while working has taken the sting out of the initial shock of being laid off. I’m choosing to look at this as a well-earned break with ample time to research my next move- at least until I’m dipping into my 401(k) or relocating to a trailer park. Photo of stressed woman courtesy of Shutterstock.

Monday, November 11, 2019

The New Fuss About Levels of Language Proficiency Resume

The New Fuss About Levels of Language Proficiency Resume As a result, it might help you adjust your studies, alerting you to the simple fact which you will want to take additional lessons or change your language training program. Every language has two units composed of ten modules each, which you are able to access on the internet or on your iPod. When the program was written, it's translated to the equivalent machine code by a program known as a compiler. Whether an assembly-language program should be changed or corrected, it is crucial to make the alterations to the source code and re-assemble it to make a new object program. Rocket Languages has a lot of different account types that may interest you based on your budget. On-line translation tool is a significant approach to crack down the communication problem because of the language barrier. Deciding on a standardized test for language certification can be challenging, based on the language, since there could be several tests out there. Your level will find out the value of your skill with the organization. The capability to speak different foreign languages will always be regarded as a strong point irrespective of the particular needs of the work position. Unless you're applying for work in IT, you can alsoput your computer skills in the exact same section below an overall core competencies heading. Starting at a greater level will produce the procedure too challenging and additionally, it will create the teacher's job of reaching the learner problematic. Last, but not least, it is dependent on the degree of proficiency the individual wants to attain. Likewise, input beneath the learner's level won't be constructive for them. How each person improves will be impacted by contextual and individual variables. Vocabulary use is suitable for high-frequency utterances. Educational bodies for assorted languages have offered estimates for the quantity of study necessary to reach levels in the appropriate language. Use the self-assessment tools to learn your level in every language you speak. Placement in a particular level is dependent on language proficiency. Every level is connected with certain competencies. You should first evaluate your degree of proficiency so you may accurately present it in your resume. There are various levels of language proficiency. Since learning a new language is something which most white folks fail at, it needs to be approached with extreme caution. When translating sign language into English, for instance, some words are going to have direct translation. Sometimes it's so frustrating when you're not able to know the language of others. When it has to do with learning a new language, white people are able to adhere to a few paths, the most frequent of which is to attempt to learn a language that is a favorite in their present-day city. Level 3 is what's usually utilized to measure how lots of people on the planet know a given language. Men and women know you're a foreigner but think you're doing very well. What the In-Crowd Won't Tell You About Levels of Language Proficiency Resume The effect of the test assumes that you didn't guess any of the answers. There are a lot of tests available that give results based on the respective scales, so the very best move is probably to pick an exam depending on the scale you want to use (and, needless to say, the language you're learning). A regular language course is 3-5 hours each week, or 108-180 hours each year plus preparation beyond class. Our on-line level tests are easy to finish and free to use. What Is So Fascinating About Levels of Language Proficiency Resume? You can opt to seek your own degree of happiness. Reaching your utmost potential is the greatest aim of body-building training, but starting with the suitable weight is the most significant preliminary step to acquire stronger each day. As a way to be fluent, you've got to be in a position to do certain things. Notice the changes within your body and the way you are feeling. So if you're very fluent, I mean if you're at university level, you're likely to know many more words than someone who can only read at a grade three level. Try out an online research, and at times even better ask friends in rather fantastic jobs if you've got the capability to use their resume as a thought template. You'll highly gain from knowing at least a small bit of Spanish during your journey. Equally being considered of lower status can be damaging to your success. The above mentioned steps will manage translation of the numerous menus and buttons in SharePoint, but won't translate the Term Store metadata. Your language skills are just a little portion of your resume, therefore it's essential that also you recognize how to compose a resume by every section. You ought to have a particular la nguages' section which gives more comprehensive info on your ability. The default language of the website is set while the website is first created. At a policy level, language hierarchies are quite seen in the means in which school curricula are constructed, for example. Possessing a universal method to speak about your language proficiency can help you distinguish yourself in a crowded area of job candidates or school applicants. If learners haven't been encouraged to rate their own learning throughout their prior education, they might not find out how to do it. In most instances, teachers will merely require the Benchmarks and many samples of student work to evaluate language proficiency in the classroom.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Top Resumes Free Downloads Secrets

Top Resumes Free Downloads Secrets There's so many to pick from in his package that there's no use in describing a few of the features, because you'll certainly be able to obtain what you need within. If it comes to resumes, you will discover a lot of website providing high regular examples of resumes that may serve you as model for a professionally written letter. No matter of the sort of paper you pick, you can be confident you will discover many examples of resume which will be able to help you construct your own, attractive and professional resume. Which so many choices to select from, there won't be quite as difficult some examples of resume which will fit your nature and the job you would like to obtain. Writing a strong application is a challenging procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Free Resume examples are like samples of resumes with the suitable format, the appropriate structure and the suitable content details. So be certain to modify downloaded files to you get to coincide with your experience accordingly. Life After Resumes Free Downloads The upcoming free resume template is devised in the shape of a brochure. Creating a resume with the assistance of a template can help you become mindful of the resume areas that you should fill. To take advantage of this freebie, utilize a step-by-step PDF guide readily available in its package. Get your fantasy job with the aid of this totally free expert PSD freebie. Choose a template you want. It's quick and simple to find and use templates. A template also simply makes it possible to conserve time. It gives you a suggested structure for your documents, so you can quickly start writing. The Honest to Goodness Truth on Resumes Free Downloads The training programs and conferences that you've attended are also crucial to be put in a fresher resume. It's possible to even take a look at some of the samples of various sorts of resumes for various kinds of careers. You can also check at a number of the samples of various kinds of resumes for various kinds of careers. The Ultimate Resumes Free Downloads Trick Possessing a strong resume will enable you find several great jobs. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously offer you an advantage. You have to find out approaches to adjust your experience to the demands of the new job and set it in such a manner your strengths are displayed on top. You must find out strategies to adjus t your experience to the demands of the new job and place it in such a manner your strengths are displayed on top. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. With all these folks competing for the very same customers, the work search can be a bit frustrating. Finding the proper job is a struggle. If you're attempting to acquire work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. The Do's and Don'ts of Resumes Free Downloads Companies which need to employ truck drivers often have many truck driving work in several states. Its high-quality PSD file is completely customizable. Also be certain you tailor the document to the job you're applying for. A completely free trial should incorporate access to the whole site so that you can receive a feel as to whether or not it's well worth it to create the investment. Possessing an in depth contact information listing may give your prospective employer more options about how to get hold of you. Many totally free sites provide this service too. Some premium job search sites provide perks that produce the price of a subscription worth it. Resumes Free Downloads: the Ultimate Convenience! You may be astounded at the things you'll find out. Make certain you didn't miss whatever could cost you the job that you dream about! The very first thing you'll need to do is gather all of the info you've got about you and that may be included in a resume. There are lots of folks saying you maynot locate reliable information over the net.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Hidden Solutions to Job Skills for Resumes Discovered

Hidden Solutions to Job Skills for Resumes Discovered The Basic Principles of Job Skills for Resumes You Will be Able to Learn From Beginning Today Which format you select will depend, in part, on the sort of work you've performed and whether you will continue in the identical field. There are styles of preparing your skills section that may still show you in the ideal light. Read through it a couple of occasions and you'll probably spot three or four vital skills mentioned repeatedly throughout the document. The particular skills you have to excel in the working world will differ based on your area. In truth, it might be appropriate to incorporate a more prominent core competencies section at the peak of your resume with comprehensive descriptions of certain skills if they're absolutely central to success in the desired position. The competitive climate of the work market has gotten to a fever pitch lately. In reality, there are particular jobs in which it's important to place a skill section at or close to the top of the resume. The absolute most important consideration to take away from this is that selecting and understanding the suitable skills for the position is the main thing. Job Skills for Resumes - the Story Logic suggests hard skills are somewhat more important. Take a look at the free Ultimate Guide to the fantastic Resume for everything you should know, including templates! Key skills are work-related skills that you want to do a job. Professional skills are extremely important additionally to include on your resume. If you're not certain which skills you would like to share, consider your prior experiences. Some skills might be relevant while others aren't. Stress which you have excellent or robust communication skills rather than simply communication abilities. Effectively showcasing your communication skills can help you distinguish yourself from different candidates. The Key to Successful Job Skills for Resumes To begin with, it is going to help you decide if you're missing any critical skills that recruiters are interested in finding. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often they're utilised to secure new employment. Since many job seekers may list skills in another section of their resume, additionally, it is important to weave them into descriptions under every one of your prior positions. Resumes are an essential portion of an individual's job hunt. Sales and Marketing You'll require an assortment of skills to be effective in a sales role, and you'll have to be in a position to demonstrative those skills to prospective employers. Accounting computer software skills are important if you're applying for positions in the finance or company sectors. Purpose The skill section needs to be optimized to aid a computerized scanning system recognize job skills for your favorite industry. In addition to the practical demand for developers in virtually every organization, programming skills demonstrate advanced problem solving skills that could result in a well-rounded professional. There are several other computer skills, however, that are generally used across all industries which are important for most job applicants to know. Alongside basic understanding of spreadsheets, having data visualization skills might also be useful in a data-heavy function. To assist you in getting started, have a look at the sample job descriptions below. It is possible to find below a list of the greatest skills you may put on your resume based on the kind of job which you are applying for. For example, if you submit an application for a Chinese-English interpreting job, you ought to be fluent in both languages otherwise you would not really qualify for the position. The very best approach would be to learn the essence of the job. Hard skills can be classified in various ways, depending upon your job title. Jobs are constantly changing and evolving, and you need to demonstrate an openness to raise and learn with that shift. Although your target job may not ask that you speak with customers or give presentations, it's rare to discover a position that doesn't involve some type of communication on a standard basis. Many jobs out there require that you work in the existence of different men and women. Regardless of what the work description says, always make certain to include things such as this on your resume. There's only so much room on your resume, and at times it can be hard to properly convey whatever you should. Thus when writing down your job skills take some time to strategize and find out the ideal approach to organize them in your resume. The varying nature of the job calls for a man or woman who's effective in a broad variety of situations.

Friday, November 8, 2019

The Do This, Get That Guide On Create Cv

The Do This, Get That Guide On Create Cv The History of Create Cv Refuted Whether you're writing your very first curriculum vitae or revising a recent CV, a template can be quite useful. You'll observe each one of the accessible resume templates, and you're able to examination them to acquisition the one which works best for you. For instance, a template can explain to you how to lay out your CV. Thus, don't forget to supply the in depth instructions and tell what companies you're likely to send your CV. My documents look far better. If that's the case, don't fret about what it appears like, because it'll be consistent with the other resumes in the database. Life After Create Cv Your CV profile ought to be a couple of lines long, feature the main high level features of your work, and be tailored towards the needs of the roles you're applying for. CVs are normally not very long, if you don't have a wealthy and varied quantity of education, employment and life experiences. Thus it's important to find a means to make your resume stand out of tons of different resumes, particularly whenever you are in design. The Fundamentals of Create Cv Revealed Locating a sensible CV form on the website is far easier than, for example, attempting to finish the so-called Europass. Since everybody's experience differs, it's no surprise which their resumes will be too. Presenting your in formation visually will help you distinguish yourself from the crowd. Create resume here is only a fun. All you need to do is upload the info and the resume builder will deal with the rest. There are different alternatives to think about when it has to do with putting together an online resume. ConnectCV is another exact efficient online resume building tool at no cost. One of the principal drawbacks of employing an online resume builder is the very simple actuality that you've got zero control over your content. Create Cv Can Be Fun for Everyone Employers typically do not prefer to get functional resumes since they do not show your work history or career progress. After all, they need to be able to read your infographic to know what you're all about. Also, without a message connected to the email, the employer is not going to understand why you're sending the resume to her or him. Many would-be employers have a lot of CVs to check at so yours needs be effortless to read a nd approachable. The absolute most professional CVs are printed on good quality white paper, employing a normal text, but are brilliant because of the quantity of useful, exceptional information that they include. You can also produce a personalized link to our document which could be easily pasted into an email or message. By way of example, utilize an icon that will help you section headers stick out. If you would like your job title to be noticed, you can alter the color or allow it to be italic, but attempt to keep it simple. Create Cv and Create Cv - The Perfect Combination You do not have to get registered to use the creator. Both HTML templates and WordPress themes permit you to do far more with your resume website, so choosing between both might not be easy. Now, you are going to see all the different resume styles Word has to offer you. Microsoft Word provides a bunch of resume templates. The New Angle On Create Cv Just Released CV Generator enables you to import information from Facebook or LinkedIn and fill the majority of the details you have to have in automatically. Make certain you have replaced each of the information from the template with your own, personalized info. Additional information needs to be added later. All the info required isn't time-consuming. Each site is manually picked by me so I can see to it that the quality. Employing a web site template created especially for a resume website is a good approach to make your private site. The website provides free along with premium templates that users can utilize. If you don't create a resume employing an on-line site's resume builder but still wish to post it to the website, you might have to upload it. CV Maker is a simple to use online utility that may help users create professional CVs online. Google docs enables you to download your completed resume in a number of popular formats, including Microsoft Word. There are hundreds and hundreds of HTML site templates to pick from and they are simple to setup. It's important to get a professional resume that is simple to read and successfully highlights your abilities and experience, but when saving a resume file for uploading, in addition, it is critical to be certain it is readily accessible for potential employers.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Kids, Work and Career Objective on Resume

Kids, Work and Career Objective on Resume All About Career Objective on Resume Don't forget your nursing resume will want to list your nursing abilities. A career objective is a brief statement that defines the position you're seeking, setting the tone for the remainder of your resume. The ideal place to explain why you wish to visit grad school is in your private statement. Simply take a peek at our other resume samples for each career. When writing your resume objective, you need to always have the aim of answering this question. Include a summary paragraph at the peak of your resume and tie everything in the work description with all you've accomplished before, she states. Watch the subsequent video to learn to compose the great recent-graduate resume for an entry-level position. Whether an objective statement is used, one particular thing to bear in mind is to state it regarding advantage to the employer. Make it simple for them to find you by including the URL to your profile at the peak of your resume. The peak of your resume is prime real estate, which means you don't squander it by utilizing vague filler material. Before you begin listing off all your accolades, you have to choose what format of resume you need to use. For more details, the remainder of your resume is easily available. In your profile, explain how you'll satisfy the organization's expectations. A profile serves to show what you've got to provide an employer what you will do for the business in the future. Focus on how you're an advantage to the companynot the way the firm can help you. Have a look at the work listing for insights into just what the business is searching for in an employee. If you are now at a business, write in present tense. Rather than mentioning ways to help your organization succeed, state directly that it is possible to help XYZ Company to succeed. In lots of ways, an objective replaces a lot of the detail you would set in your professional experience section. Alternatives he resume objective should be no longer than one line. And think about keywords too this is an outstanding place to put keywords on your resume so that you can acquire past on-line job application systems. Adding in a transparent statement of your objective at the commencement of your resume, though, can boost your application, if done skillfully. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Career Objective on Resume The Career Objective is intended to provide the hiring manager a reason to carr y on reading your resume. Very clear and descriptive, the qualifications summary is excellent if you're applying for employment that asks for quite a particular set of skills. When you're asking for work, your very first aim is to let employers know your abilities and talents align with the needs of their open position. If you've held any preceding jobs (like internships!) When you first graduated from school or started searching for work, odds are someone advised you to incorporate an objective statement at the summit of your resume. Conclusion If you're a high school student seeking to land a part-time job which brings you extra income and enables you build some skills that might become important to your career in future, you must present a compelling resume to prospective employers to increase your probability of being picked for the job. Thus don't get discouraged if the idea of embarking on a work search makes you wish to have a time-out. If you're asking for a new job in the exact company you already do the job for, odds are you'll be placed through precisely the same standard program, screening and interview processes as any other jobseeker. Type of Career Objective on Resume Their resumes will need to demonstrate not merely their relationship-building abilities but also how they'll fit into the new small business setting. Chronological res umes are excellent for clearly displaying your work or educational history and they're a good option for nearly any degree of experience. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Career Objective on Resume Many struggle to make an attention-grabbing resume, she states. If you get a lengthy career history, focus on the previous 10 to 15 decades. You are earning a career change. A number of these help you and a number of them hurt you. Entry-level objectives can be particularly hard to write as you likely don't have loads of work experience, but you do want to solidify that you know the kind of career you're searching for. If don't have any work experience, these would probably be academic achievements. Most grad programs require some kind of private statement, which is where you'll receive the ideal opportunity to inform the school why your experiences and interests make you the very best candidate for the program. Mention your abilities and experiences.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Dirty Facts About How to Make a Resume Revealed

Dirty Facts About How to Make a Resume Revealed A Startling Fact about How to Make a Resume Uncovered The issue is that how do you locate the correct job without having any experience. Even if your present job is quite specific, it doesn't indicate you don't have transferable skills. Find a person who is doing a job which you'd be considering doing, then understand them. Recruitment agencies supply you with the opportunity to meet people who make money finding work for different folks. You continue searching for more and advanced jobs that will supply you with a very good salary. Before you begin applying for new jobs, take care to update your resume. When you make an account, you produce a repository. Below are a few tips that can help to make sure your application paperwork is working for you. A resume template will give a great idea about how to prepare a resume and give you the much essential start. Don't be scared to reach out to prospective peers at companies you wish to work for. Alternatively, you should customize an application per company you're applying. A bonus to turning into a well-rounded employee at the provider is that will end up more of an asset. Finding work in an increasing startup is the perfect way to learn to manage and grow a team effectively, how to evolve your job for a founder once your organization is growing, and the way to construct a vision that consistently keeps everyone productive. A fantastic resume can definitely make a difference and not only with respect to content. When you are just about to compose a resume to submit an application for work, you should decide on a format which suits your resume. All you should know the technique to compose clear lines and precise information. Deciding upon a good resume format will help you to make a resume that has the capability to make a better impression in the minds of employers. Have a great cover letter There are most likely many others applying for the exact same vacancy as you. The objective of your resume needs to be strong enough so the correct candidate for the job. Generally, it needs to be a concise and very clear overview of your qualifications. Generally speaking, it ought to be a concise and very clear overview of your overall qualifications. Creating a solid resume is the initial step toward receiving work. You understand how important it's to get a well-written application and resume when you start to look for work. A resume is a significant piece to the work search procedure. Since a resume is among the most essential pieces of any work application, writing a perfect and outstanding resume is extremely vital for men and women in order to have the job of their dreams. Don't delay to attempt to find assistance if you aren't a strong writer. Therefore locating a person who knows the way to write properly can be a huge help. The folks who will help to make your career are the individuals who are actually care about the mission. A mentor can assist you through the rough spots. Locate a side hustle that you've got genuine interest and experience in, and you're going to be surprised who you'll meet on the way. Then, when you have discovered lots of courses that you appear to believe are acceptable, the next thing t o do is to work out which of them you are likely to take. As soon as you've worked there a while, you might be qualified for a promotion or a different opening within the organization. Nevertheless, it's well well worth it to visit a class or two and find that certification. How to Make a Resume at a Glance The primary reason is they aren't very good at writing and in addition, they lack experience with writing a resume. As long because there's an explanation, you should be OK. There are the exceptions to the rule, clearly, but for the greater part of us writers, we have to keep writing. Highlighting resume accomplishments presents a strong expert snapshot and can help you land the place of your dreams. An excellent story doesn't have gaps. Even when you're not the one to place your accomplishments into words, you're still the person who accomplished everything in your resume. You want to understand the truth about candidates and they will need to understand the truth about the job.